Uprootmap
Charleston vs Atlanta
Charleston and Atlanta
Photo: JJonahJackalope / Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.
Other cities
So you know: homicide deaths in Atlanta are above the US rate in this release, 9.2 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).
Why people look at Charleston to Atlanta
In 2022-2023, 376 households filed a move from Charleston to Atlanta (about 556 people, average adjusted gross income $82,489). 577 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,588 in Charleston and $1,399 in Atlanta. Charleston has a state tax on wages. Atlanta has a state tax on wages. Local pay in Atlanta is 101% of the national level for the same work, against 99% in Charleston.
Atlanta averages 217 sunny days, with July highs around 89°F and January nights around 34°F. Charleston is 222 sunny days, 90°F in July, 41°F in January. Commutes average 31 minutes in Atlanta and 27 in Charleston.
These figures are projections built from available public data. Conditions change, and the numbers may not reflect current prices, taxes, or immigration rules. Check official sources before you make decisions.
Who already made this move
In 2022-2023, 376 households moved Charleston → Atlanta (about 556 people, average AGI $82,489). 577 households went the other way.
Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration. Not a moving company; not a recommendation.
The monthly number is take-home pay minus rent and the other bills. The gap between Charleston and Atlanta changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 309 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $1,850–$3,500
- Container or pod
- $1,250–$2,400
- Rent a truck
- $550–$1,000
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Dig into Atlanta
Questions
Is Atlanta cheaper than Charleston after tax and rent?
Yes. Atlanta leaves about $105 more a month, so the cost of living is lower there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,588 in Charleston and $1,399 in Atlanta.
Does Atlanta have state income tax?
Atlanta is in Georgia, which taxes wage income.
Did people actually move from Charleston to Atlanta?
Yes, when the IRS published that flow. The count and their average income are on this page. Leftover prices the same household in both cities.